Dishwashing machine



Feb. 26, 19146. L055 2,395,747

DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 26, 1946. A, LQEB 2,395,747

DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 enema Feb. 26, 1946 mam 2,395,747 'nrsnwasmo meme Lawrence A. Loeb, New Haven, (John. I Application November-25, 1940, Serial No. 367,020

' I 6 Claims. (on. 134-58) This invention relates to dishwashing machines, and more particularly to ahousehold dishwashing machine designed to be placed in the kitchen of a home and usedby the ordinary householder. The features of construction are, of course, not confined to this use, but may be employed in dishwashing machines constructed for use in any situation.

The'invention particularly relates to a dishwashing machine which is adapted to be sup.- ported from the floor. Machines of this character have in the past been of relatively expensive construction, and the expense thereof has been motor it having a, shaft It to actuate an agitating means for the water in the tub. As shown this means is in the form of a propeller ll having blades l8 and E9 of a form similar to that of a motor boat propeller, for example. The .propeller is mounted on the motor shaft, which extends through the bottom of the tub.

a factor in restricting their distribution. Moreover, in some instances machines of this character now upon the marketare provided with 'controlling devices for controlling the various operations of the machines, which controlling devices are not as convenient as might be desired.

One object of the'invention is the construction operation and economical to manufacture so that it may be sold at a relatively low price.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved controlling. mechanism to control the performance of the various operaof a dishwashing machine which is emcient inv tions of the device by manipulation of a single control member.

of the front case showing the control mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are views similar toFig. 4-, but showingthe control disk in various positions;

and

Fig. 9 is a detail elevational view of the control disk.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention 1 have shown a dishwashing machine which comprises an outer case Ill and an inner tub or vat ll supported from the floor uponlegs l2. The bottom of the tub isshown' at Hi, from which portion the bottom slopes upwardly upon all four sides. as shown at- H, to meet the side portions of the tub. Mounted below the tub is a,

It will be noted that at its upper portion the tub H is provided with an opening 20, this opening being defined by stepped portions or flanges 2i and 22, and that the case lfl is provided with a flange 23 which enters thelopening 2,0 and fits snugly against the flange 2 i.

A cover 24 is provided for the opening 20, thecover being hinged at 25 and being provided with stepped flanges to lie against the flanges 2| and 22, and also a depending flange 26 projecting downwardly from the flan e 22 so as'to eflectually seal the opening against leakage of'water when the latter is agitated during the dishwashing operations. m

-' It will be noted that the tub H is provided along two sides with inclined upper portions 21, and extending from these members to the flanges 2| are bafiies 28, which bailles are adapted to cooperate with the inclined sides U to deflect the water upon the rear surfaces of the dishes in the ;racks, and particularly the upper rack, as will taken at right anglesbe hereinafter described. Similarly baflies may be provided at the front and back of the tub, as shown at 28. The cover 2% may be provided with a transparent or glass portion 29, so that the operation of the machine may be viewed while the cover is closed.

Within the tub are provided upper and lower dish racks to hold the dishes in place, the upper dish racks being designated by th numeral M and the lower dish rack by the numeral 50. As no claim is made to the specific structure of these dish racks in the present application, a detailed I description thereof is unnecessary.

Adjacent the rear wall ofthe tub is a tube 56 communicating atits lower end with a bent tube '61 leading into the tub, and in this tube is mounted a float 58 having a stem' 59 secured at its upper end to an indicator 60 by which the level of the water in the tub may be readily indicated to the operator.

A drain pipe 6| communicates with the lower portion of the tub, the communication being controlled by a v'a1ve62, the stem 63 of which is connected to one endof a lever 64 pivoted at 65:, and normally urged by a spring t6 into a position to hold the valve'in raised or open position.

' Also communicating with the lower portionof the tub is an inlet pipe 81 passing upwardly to a valve housing 88 within which is an ordinary spring-pressed control valve 88 secured to the stem 18, so that when the stem is pressed inwardly or upwardly, as shown in Figs; 3 and 5.

the valve will be opened to admit water from a source of supp y to the tub. An overflow pipe 8| communicates with the tub at its upper end and with the drain pipe at itslower end. I

The inlet and .outlet of the tub, as well as the operation of the motor I5, is controlled by a single control disk 15, shown in Figs. 4 to 9, which disk is secured to a rotatable stem I8 projecting through the outer casing I and having secured at its outer end a control handle or operating member 11. Withreference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that at the front the outer housing I8 is spaced some distance from the trout wall of the tub, so that the inlet pipe 81, the valve casing 88, and the control apparatus may all be mounted between the tub and the outer casing even when they are not in engagement with the and supporteclupon a member 18 secured .to the tub.

is provided with an eccentric pin 18', to which is secured a link 88 connected at its lower end to a spring 8|, the spring being in turn connected to a rod 82, the lower end or which has a one- The disk 15, which is rotated by the handle 11,

conducting member 88. For this purpose the -face of the disk upori which the member 88 is mounted may be provided with radially disposed slots or recesses 82, which will break the rings of carbon which otherwise might form upon the disk and prevent the short-circuiting of the con-,

tact members 88 and 8|.

The operation of the controls may be best explained by reference to Figs. 4 to 9. With the handle I1 in the position shown in Fig. 3, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein the drain is open, the water inlet valve 88 is closed,

and the motor is at rest. This will be the position of the parts when the machine is out of operation. j

When it is desired to use the machine, the handle 11 is given a turn in the direction to move the disk 18 according to the arrows in Figs. 4. 6, I and 8. The disk is first moved through an angle of 90 to the position shown inFig. 6. In this position the pin 18 will be at the upper portion of its orbit, and the drain will, therefore, be closed.

Also the larger diameter of the disk will be in a vertical direction, and therefore the lever 85 will be moved downwardly to open the valve 88 and permit the filling of the tub. The motor, howway connection at 83 with the control arm 84 or the outlet valve 82. It will be apparent that when the disk 15 is in the positions shown in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein the pin 18 is within the upper rangeof its movement, the controlling member 64 will be raised and the valve 82 will be closed, and conversely, when the disk is in the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 8 and the pin 18 .at the lower range of its movement, the spring 88 will ever, will not be in operation. When the gauge 88 shows that the desired quantity of water is in the tub, the handle 11 is given a further turn through an angle of 90 to the position shown in Fig. 7.

draw the arm 84 downwardly and raise the valve 82'to drain the tub.

In order that the supply of water to the tub will be controlled by the disk 15, the latter is made of elliptical shape, being greater across one diameter than another. contacts the upper edge of a lever 85, which engages the lower end of the valvestem 18, whereby, when the disk 15 is in the positions shown'in Figs. 6 and 8, wherein the longer diameter is vertically disposed, the lever 85 will be moved downwardly to open the valve and admit water to the tub. When, however, the disk is in the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 7, with the shorter diameter vertically disposed, the valve 88 will-be closed by The edge of the disk its spring. The edge of the disk I5 may be pro-i vided with notches 88 to merely locate this disk iii.

member 88 of substantially quadrantal form, this member being adapted to engage vertically spaced contacts 88 and 8| serving'to close the circuit to the motor in any desired way. When the contacts 80 and 8| are both engaged by the member 88 of conducting material, the circuit will be closed. When, howeventhe contacts are not It will be understood that these in engagement with this member, the circuit will be open, and the motor will be out or operation.

Ii the contacts 88 and 8| are formed of carbon, this material may be rubbed oil upon the face,

As the pin 1.9 is still at the upper portion of its movement, the drain valve will still be closed, but the shorter diameter of the disk will be disposed vertically and the inlet valve 88 will be closed. It will be noted that the contacts 98 and 8| will, as shown in Fig. '7, be engaged by the contact member 88 on the disk, and at this time the motor will be placed in operation. The machine will now be performing the'washing operation, in that the tub will be filled with water, both drain and inlet valves will be closed, and the motor will be rotatingthe agitator |'I. When the dishes have been cleaned, the control member 11 will be turned through a further angle of 90 to the position shown in Fig. 8. In thi position the motor will still be in operation, as the contacts 80 and 8| will still be engaged with the contact member 88, but the drain valve will be open, and likewise the inlet valve 68 will be open, thus permitting the used water to drain from the tub while at the same time admitting fresh water and also operating the agitator. This is the rinse position of the parts, the fresh water which enters through the inlet valve 88 being thrown up over the cleansed dishes to rinse them. After the dishes have beenthoroughly rinsed, the control member I1 is'again turned through an angle of 90 to the normal inoperative position 01 the parts shown in Fig. 4.

While I have shown and described a preferred] embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be'limited to all the details shown. but is capable of modification and variation with.-

in the spirit of the invention and withn the scope oi the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a dishwashing machine, a tub having an inlet and a drain, valve means for controlling said inlet and dralnrespectively, a disk-shaped rotatable controlling element having a cam portion thereon, extensible means connected to'said element and to said drain valve to actuate the latter, an inlet valve actuating member. said of the disk and short-circuit the two contacts I a tub therein having an inlet and a drain, a valve member controlling the inlet, a second valve member controlling the drain, the first valve member being spring pressed to closed position and the secondbeing spring pressed to open position, an

agitator'in the tub, a motor to rotate the agitator, a switch to control said motor, controlling means mounted between said tub and case comprising a horizontally disposed rotatable shaft extending to the exterior of the case for manual manipulation, a disk on said shaft, means mechanically connecting said disk with said valves to move the latter against the action of said springs, the connection to said drain valve comprising a tensionexerting extensible member to permit movement of said disk while said valve remains closed and means on said disk to actuate the motor switch.

3. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub having an inlet and a drain, valve means for controlling said inlet and drain respectively; a diskshaped rotatable element, an actuator for the inlet valve extended to a point adjacent said element, said element having an eccentric portion thereon to operate said actuator, and an extensible tension-exerting member connected to said element and to said drain valve to operate-the latter, said means being eccentrically connected to said element.

4. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub having an inlet and a drain, valve means for controlling said inlet and drain respectively, a diskshaped rotatable element, an actuator for the inlet valve extended to a point adjacent said element, said element. having an eccentric portion thereon to operate said actuator, and connecting means connecting said element to said drain valve to operate the latter, said means being eccentrically connected to said element and including an extensible tension-exerting member to draw the drain valve to closed position and to permit movement of said element while said drain valve remains closed.

5. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub having an inlet and a drain, valve means for controlling said inlet and drain respectively, a disk- 15 shaped rotatable element, an actuator for the inlet valve extending to a point adjacent said element, said element having oppositely disposed eccentric portions thereon to operate said actuator, and an extensible tension-exerting member con- 20 necting said element to said drain valve to operate the latter, said member being eccentrically connected to said element.

6. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub having inlet means and drain means, a valve for 25 controlling each of said inlet and drain means,

said drain means comprising a valve seat against which the drain valve rests to close the drain, adisk-shaped rotatable element, means connecting said element to the inlet valve to actuate the 30 latter, means connecting said element to the drain valveto draw the latter against its seat and close the drain, said last-named means being eccentrically connected to said element and ineluding a tension member which is yieldingly ex- 5 tensible whereby limited movement of said element is permitted without movement of said drain valve.

LAWRENCE A. LOEB. 

